Connector



S'. L. ARSON March 28, 1950 CONNECTOR Filed April 9, 1945 Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONNECTOR Samuel L. Arson, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to James H. Cannon, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 9, 1945, Serial No. 587,281

5 Claims. l

My invention relates to a means for connecting a pair of conductors to dei-lne a continuous transmission path therebetween and, more specically, to a device of this general character which comprisesa socket adapted for receiving a terminal pin and incorporates a novel means for frictionally interlocking the socket and terminal pin to elect positive contact therebetween while permitting rapid and facile connection and disconnection thereof when desired.

In the employment of mobile equipment re quiring an electrical power supply, such as the starting motors for aircraft power plants, or in the use of a variety of electrical equipment receiving power from a single central supply panel, it is frequently necessary to provide a means for effecting a temporary connection between the source of supply and the equipment requiring power. The connecting device must provide positive electrical contact and should be readily disengageable to permit breaking the connection easily when the power supply is no longer re quired. Such electrical connectors are frequently used for the transmission of a relatively intense current and may also be subjected to a considerable amount of rough handling during the operation thereof. .One of the objects of my invention, therefore, is the provision of a heavy duty connector which may be adapted for the transmission of current of high intensity and which is capable of withstanding severe usage.

Most electrical connectors of the conventional terminal pin-and-socket type rely upon a wedging action to effect positive electrical contact.

A substantial force is required to insert the ter` mina] pin in or withdraw it from the socket, which is extremely undesirable when frequent connection and disconnection is dictated by the nature of the employment of the device. Constant operation ofk such conventional connectors also results in rapid Wear of the relatively soft mating surfaces -with a consequent reduction of contact eiiiciency. A primary object of my invention, thereforais the provision of an electrical connector-4 of the terminal pin-and-socket type which is specifically adapted for smooth and eil'ortless operation without sacrificing eiilciency of electrical contact.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electrical connector including a socket which is particularly adapted for positive engagement,-

2 leasable means for frictionally interlocking a socket and terminal pin to effect positive contact therebetween.

Another object of my invention is to provide a connector incorporating a means for effecting disengagement -of a socket and terminal pin to permit facile operation of the connector.

A purpose of my invention is to provide a connector having a configuration which is especially adapted for convenient handling.

An additional object of my invention is the pr-ovision of a connector whose component parts may be fabricated and assembled readily.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be made evident in the following disclosure and a full comprehension thereof may best be achieved by consideration of the accompanying drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only, wherein:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a socket assembly forming one part of the connector;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a terminal pin assembly which forms the mating part of the connector;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the terminal pin assembly of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the socket assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an end View of the socket assembly as indicated by the arrow 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section through the socket assembly taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but taken along the line 1 1 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, the connector, indicated generally by the numeral I0, includes a socket assembly il which is adapted to receive a terminal pin assembly I2 to dene a continuous transmission path between a conductor I3 and another conductor l5 (shown in phantom), the latter being securable to a panel I8 (shown in phantom) rby means not shown but l well known in the art. The contractible socket assembly Il comprises' a socket 2li disposed within a socket housing 30 and incorporates a releasable terminal pin engaging means 40. The socket 20, formed of a suitable electrically conductive material, is provided with a circular longitudinal aperture or bore 2l therein and radial slots 22 therethrough which communicate with the bore 2l to define a plurality oispaced peripheral segments or fingers 23. Thesocket 20 is preferably provided with a square shank having a transverse bore 25 vtherethrough adapted for containing an exposed portion i4 of the conductor I3 which may be secured in the bore 2S, as is well known in the art, to eiect positive electrical contact with the shank 25.

The socket housing 30, formed of a suitable non-conductor such as oneof the various thermoplastic materials, .is preferably fabricated `in two symmetrical and complementary halves 3l and 31a to define a circular opening 32 and a square recess 33 therebetween, the latter being adapted to contain the square shank 25 of the socket 26 to secure the socket 2S and socket housing 3i! together as illustrated. The half 3| .of the socket housing lili is provided with an opening B2i thereinto to permit entry of the conductor i3 and the socket housing 3i! is preferably formed with a substantially spherical end 35 to provide a coniiguration adapted for convenient handling. Each half 3i and Sia of the socket housing ABil 'is provided with recesses llt land 3l' in the outer surface thereof to permit securing the two halves 3l and alla together by means of spring clips 38 and 3d, preferably formed of a suitable resilient metal :and having bent ends which are disposed in the recesses 3S and 31 respectively, as best shown in -Figs. 4 and 7.

The terminal pin engaging means iii), best shown in Figs. 6 and 8, includes an expansible annular retaining spring fill, preferably formed of a suitable resilient metal, which encircles the peripheral segments 23 of the socket 2li and is adapted for urging the segments 23 inwardly to reduce the size of the aperture 2l therebetween. The retaining spring .lll is provided with a pair of substantially parallel and outwardly extending ends Q2 which are engageable by a cam i3 to effect expansion of the retaining spring iii in order to relieve the inward deformation of the segments of the socket 20, as will be discussed in detail hereinafter. The cam d3 is secured to a .rotatable shaft `lli projecting through a hole t5 in the socket housing 30, the shaft 44 being rigidly connected to one end of a bail-type trigger 46 which encircles the socket housing 3l), as best shown in Fig. l. The other end of the bail trigger Il@ is provided with a pivot '4l extending into an opening '418 through the .socket housing 3i), the shaft M and the pivot 4l being disposed diametrically opposite each other, as best shown in Fig. 6. The bail trigger 45, preferably formed or" a suitable non-conductor, or coated with a non-conductive material `to permit operation 'thereof by the bare `hand of an operator, provides a means for actuating the cam 43 to eiect expansion or permit contractionof the annular retaining spring 4l Shoulders 49 are preferably provided on the 4socket housing 39 to limit the travel Aof the bail trigger 46 in one direction.

Theterminal pin assembly l2 comprisesa plug member or terminal pin 58 secured to a terminal housing Sii., as best shown in Fig. 3. The terminal` pin til, `formed of a suitable conductive material, is cylindrical in form to permit insertion thereof into the socket 2B, as will be discussed in detail hereinafter, and is preferably provided with a hexagonal head 5i extending from one end thereof and an internallythreaded, longitudinal bore 52 in the opposite end thereof. The terminal housing preferably formed of a Suitable non-conductor, is vof a generally cylindrical conguration to permit insertion thereof into the .circular opening 3.2

inthe socket housing '.30 .and is provided with a' fcate's with the opening circular longitudinal opening 6I therein to provide a cylindrical skirt or sleeve Bld which is adapted to receive the socket 20 and retaining spring 4I, as will be discussed hereinafter. The terminal housing 6B is preferably provided with a peripheral iiange 62 thereon which is adapted to abut the end of the socket housing 39 and is also provided with a slot 63 therethrough which is adapted to receive 'the ends 42 of the retaining spring 4i. The terminal housing 60 is preferably provided with a concentric, longitudinal hole 64 therethrough which communias illustrated, the hole 64 having inwardly-directed counterbores G5 `and 6'6 which are concentric therewith, the hole 65 preferably being of hexagonal crosssection. The terminal pin lill and the terminal housing BIJ may be secured together by means of an externally-threaded stud 53 extending through the hole 64 in the terminal housing 60 and adapted for threaded engagement with the bore 52 in the terminal -pin 50.' The stud 53 is lprovided with a hexagonal head or nut 5d thereon which is complementary to the hexagonal hole 65 determining the position of the longitudinal slot G3. By suitably pre-positioning the Vhexagonal head 5G to determine the position of the slot E3 prior to assembling the terminal pin -50 and terminal housing 60, any desired position of the conductor i3 relative to the terminal pin assembly i2 may be obtained. The nut 54 is adapted to abut the panel I8, which may, for example, represent a central power supply panel, the surface of a junction box or the top of a battery case, and the stud 5E may be secured to the panel I 8 by any suitable means as is well known in the art. The stud 53 and the conductor i5, which extends through the panel i8, may be formed integrally or joined by any suitable means and it will of course be understood that the panel i8 is not an .essential component of the invention, having `been included merely for the 'purpose of illustrating an application thereof.

When an electrical connection between the conductors i3 and i5 is required, the terminal pin assembly l2 may be inserted into the socket assembly .l l to effect the desired connection. The insertion process involves displacing the bail trigger toward the spherical end 35 of the socket housing 30 to effect expansion of the annular retaining spring il by means of the action of the cam 43 on the ends 42 of the retaining spring l, whereby outward expansion Vof the segments Y2t yof the socket 20 results. The outward expansion of the segments .23 enlarges the aperture 2l therebetween Ato permit easy insertion of the terminal pin 5U therein. When the connector l@ is assembled with the terminal housing 60 disposed Yin the opening 32 of the socket housing 3i? and the ends d'2 of the retaining .spring 4l extending through the slot 63 in the terminal housing, releasing the bail trigger 46 will permit contraction of the retaining spring 4l V.at the ends '42 thereof receive the minimum dimension Aof the cam 43 therebetween, as best shown in Fig. 8. The contraction :of `the retain-v ing spring .4! defiorms the .segments 23 of the socket 2li inwardly ntopositive engagement with the terminal pin 50 to frictionally `interlock the socket assembly .I .I and terminal pinassembly l2. The engagement of the socket 20 and terminal pin- 5t provides an eicient .electrical contact and strongly resists inadvertent separation of the vrassemblies AH #and l2. When itis .necessary Ato break'the connection, the :assemblies Il and |12 may be separated readily upon releasing the retaining spring 4I by means of the bail trigger 46. Since connection and separation of the socket and terminal pin assemblies Il and l2 may thus beeiected when the clamping action of the socket 20 is relieved, the operation of the connector I is smooth and effortless and may be effected repeatedly without appreciable wear of the mating parts. The construction of the connector l0 is relatively simple and the 4various components of the device may be fabricated and assembled readily. The connector l0 is particularly'; adapted for employment with electrical currents of relatively high intensity, although the' device is not necessarily limited thereto. The construction of the preferred embodiment of the connector Ill as disclosed herein affords ample protection to the various conducting members and the device is capable of withstanding a considerable amount of severe usage.

5 Although I have herein described the preferred embodiment of my invention, various modifications and substitutions may be effected without ,departing from the underlying inventive concept; I do not intend, therefore, to be limited to the specic disclosure contained herein and hereby reserve the right to all such modifications and substitutions as properly come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

. 1, In a connector of the character described, the-combination of: a socket housing; a contractible socket member in said socket housing; ajtubular plug housing insertable into said socket housing and having a longitudinal opening therein; a plug member in said plug housing and insertable into said socket member; means for contr'acting said socket member; and means for actuating said contracting means, said longitudinal opening in said plug housing being adapted to receive said actuating means therein.

2. In a connector of the character described, the combination of: a socket housing; a contractible socket member in said housing; means for releasably contracting said socket member;

`means for expanding said contracting means; and

bail meanssemi-encircling said housing and pivotally connected thereto for operating said expanding means.

v3. In a connector of the character described, the combination of: a socket housing comprising 'a'tube; a contractible socket member in said sock- `et housing and extending longitudinally of said socket housing; an expansble spring substantially encircling said socket member and adapted to contract said socket member; means including a pair of spaced elements operatively connected to said spring and a rotatable cam between said elements for expanding said spring to permit expanson of said socket member; a shaft rigidly connected to said cam and extending through a wall of said socket housing; and means carried by said socket housing for rotating said shaft to rotate said cam.

5. In an electrical connector, the combination of: a socket housing having a tubular portion; an expansble and contractible socket disposed centrally within said tubular portion of said socket housing, said socket being secured to said socket housing; a tubular terminal housing adapted to be telescoped into said tubular portion of said socket housing and to encrmpass said socket; a terminal pin adapted to be telescoped into said socket, said terminal pin being disposed within and secured to said terminal housing; expansible resilient means` encircling said socket for contracting said socket into engagement with said terminal pin; and

means carried by one of said housings for expand-v ing said resilient means to permit expansion of said socket, whereby said socket releases said terminal pin.

SAMUEL L. ARSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 465,430 Desant Dec. 15, 1891 1,254,886 Conrad Jan. 29, 1918 1,324,994 Benjamin Dec. 16, 1919 1.588,230 Wiederholdt May 19, 1925 1,667,485 MacDonald Apr. 24, 1928 1.861,451 Park June 7, 1932 1,884,482 Wright Oct. 25, 1932 1,917,862 Wadsworth July 11, 1933 1,975,999 Young Oct, 9, 1934 2,014,853 Ley et al Sept. 17, 1935 2,041,100 Wilson, Jr May 19, 1936 2,059,008 Marquart Oct. 27, 1936 2,089,844 Anderson Aug. 10, 1937 2,198,646 Wolcott Apr. 30, 1940 2,220,810 Bright Nov. 5, 1940 2,225,728 Weidenman, Sr. Dec. 24, 1940 2,346,831 Drury Apr. 18, 1944 2,388,883 Taylor Nov. 13, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,145 Australia Nov. 14, 1932 286,966 Great Britain Mar. 15, 1928 Certificate of Correction Patent N o. 2,502,302 March 28, 1950 `SAMUEL L. ARSON It is hereby certified that 'errors appear in the printed speeication of the-,above numbered patent requlring correction as follows: j

Column 2, line 46, strike out the Word contraotbleend-,insert the lsamevin line 47, before socket 20; column 4, line 64, for at the reed as the;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read With these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of July, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommssz'oner of Patents. 

